A Second Snow Monkey Baby

Thursday, April 14, 2016

by Lincoln Park Zoo

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New Arrivals

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Regenstein Macaque Forest welcomed its second new arrival of the season as female Ono gave birth April 13. This new arrival is also Ono’s second baby at Lincoln Park Zoo, following male Obu in May 2015.

Animal care staff are cautiously optimistic about the health of the new baby, who seems to be receiving appropriate care from mom—and plenty of attention from Obu. Ono has been exploring the outdoor habitat with the rest of the troop, which also includes female Izumi and her baby, a girl, born March 18.

“Every successful snow monkey birth represents diversity in the population and the dedication of our animal care staff,” says Curator of Primates Maureen Leahy. “Because macaques are primates, there is always the risk of stillbirth or miscarriage, making this birth even more meaningful.”

All three new arrivals came about thanks to a breeding recommendation from the Japanese Macaque Species Survival Plan®, a shared management effort by institutions across the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The three kids join eight adults in Lincoln Park Zoo’s Japanese macaque troop, mirroring the complex social groups these primates inhabit in the wild. Japanese macaque troops are anchored in long-lasting female lines, with males leaving the troop upon reaching maturity and females staying and inheriting their mother’s rank.

The sex of this newest arrival is currently unknown, but we look forward to watching the baby grow. See if you can spot the additions to the troop yourself this weekend!

More Snow Monkey Updates

Welcoming a Baby Snow Monkey
Regenstein Macaque Forest welcomed a new snow monkey as female Izumi gave birth on Friday, March 18. The little one was the second new arrival for the Japanese macaque group, joining Obu, who was born last May.

Snow Monkey Games, Videos and More
Want to Build Your Own Primate or discover the cool culture of Japanese macaques? Visit snowmonkeys.org to enjoy an inside look at the snow monkeys and their high-tech home.